Karen Wood

15 Questions with Karen Wood, our shared Chief Financial Officer.

1. Briefly tell us about your background: where did you grow up, where did you go to school, and what brought you to Venture Outdoors?
I grew up in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA. After college (at William & Mary in Williamsburg), I moved to Eugene, Oregon in the mid 80s where I started my first accounting job and became active in various environmental causes. I moved to Pittsburgh in 2000 so that my children could grow up closer to their families (their father grew up here.) Skipping forward another 17 years, I learned of the new “shared CFO” position and jumped into the ring. I had been aware of Venture Outdoors since it started and always felt very aligned with their mission. From my own experiences in environmental and educational work, there is nothing as effective as getting people outdoors to foster a real understanding of the natural world around us. The more we retreat inside, in front of our screens, as a society, the more important this becomes.

2. Describe your role at Venture Outdoors in 10 words or less.
To provide better understanding and planning from a financial perspective.

3. What does “getting outside” mean to you?
Anything from just sitting in your backyard getting more familiar with the plant life and animals moving through or living there, to enjoying a hike, bike ride, or boat trip and discovering new places.

4. If you had to pick only one recreational activity to practice for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Hiking/walking. It can be meditative and gives me time to really take in my surroundings at my own pace.

5. What is the craziest thing you have done?
Agreeing to so many pets over the years. Right now I live with a dog, a cat, a bunch of koi (including about 2-3 dozen babies), an impressive array of wild bird neighbors, and I’m awaiting the arrival of a second dog.

6. What are your top five favorite outdoors/travel destinations?
My favorite local hike recently is Fall Run park in Shaler. Getting further afield: Presque Isle, Cook Forest, the Laurel Highlands, First Landing State Park (Virginia Beach), and the Bocas del Toro islands in Panama.

7. What is your favorite forest/camping snack?
I have a weakness for trail mix. With M&Ms.

8. Name three people in history (dead or alive) with whom you would want to take on a Venture Outdoors program of your choice.
David Brower, Rachel Carson, Jane Goodall

9. What is your favorite Venture Outdoors memory?
I’m still making them!